Updated 2022 Rankings: Bigs (15-6)

<p>One of the coolest things about the new Prep Hoops rankings is that it automatically ranks players by position, allowing you to see the rankings among PGs, CGs, SGs, SFs, PFs and Cs. However, new school guys like me who believe in relatively positionless basketball, as the game trends that way, believes that you can simplify the game to just three positions in guards, wings and bigs.</p> <p>So, I took the time to breakdown the rankings into the three positions, and have ranked the top 25 in each position. Here’s a look at some of the top power forwards and centers, looking at numbers 15-6 in the new rankings.</p> <p><strong>15) [player_tooltip player_id="815603" first="Arbriel" last="Winfield"] | 6’7” | LC Bird (#44 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Winfield-Arbriel.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1114403" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Winfield-Arbriel-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Winfield has shown a ton of potential over the past few years and it’s just a matter of time before he puts it all together, and so far for LC Bird this year he’s shown that it’s starting to come together. The 6’7” forward has improved in almost every facet of the game, including his ability to step to the perimeter where he can make shots from the perimeter and pass the rock as well. He’s long and athletic with a good frame, he can play above the rim and when he plays with a motor he can impact the game in a number of ways.</p> <p><strong>14) [player_tooltip player_id="798705" first="Kyrese" last="Mullins"] | 6’6” | Massanutten (#43 Overall)</strong></p> <p>Mullins has steadily improved since transferring to Massanutten and reclassifying, and he’s played on the postgrad team against guys much older than him the past two seasons. He’s slimmed down and got his body right, and he’s improved on his ability to step out and shoot the rock and even put it on the deck in transition and when attacking closeouts. He’s surprisingly quick and athletic for his size, he has no problem getting physical and can rebound with guys taller than him and he brings good energy to his team as well.</p> <p><strong>13) [player_tooltip player_id="798690" first="Matt" last="Nunez"] | 6’10” | Hargrave (#42 Overall)</strong></p> <p>Nunez has been a standout in the 757 over the past few years, and decided to transfer to Hargrave to play on their varsity team this year and possibly their post grad team next year. Nunez has great size in the paint and is able to make an impact defensively and on the glass with his length and frame, and he’s improved with his mobility and foot speed as he’s grown into his body. He has good touch over both shoulders, he can step out to the elbow to stretch the defense and he’s a good passer from the high post and out of double teams as well.</p> <p><strong>12) [player_tooltip player_id="1107830" first="Spencer" last="Hamilton"] | 6’9” | Parry McCleur (#41 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Hamilton-Spencer.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1082510" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Hamilton-Spencer-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Hamilton had a breakout season last year at McCleur, and after his highlight reel hit social media and the college coaches radar he has become a name coaches are tracking as he looks like one of the top prospects in the western part of the state. At 6’9”, Hamilton has the size and length to be a rim protector in the paint, but he has the skill set to stretch the defense with his ability to shoot it from deep and make passes on the perimeter as well. He has good hands and can finish with both hands around the rim, and while he needs to improve his foot speed he’s likely still growing which is a scary thing to think about.</p> <p><strong>11) [player_tooltip player_id="962791" first="Elliot" last="Black"] | 6’5” | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes (#38 Overall)</strong></p> <p>Black is a guy who played on a very talented SSSAS team that won the state championship when he was a freshman and made the state championship last year when he was a sophomore and played sparing minutes off the bench. Now, he should play a much more vital role for them and his production and versatility in the post is something they will gladly take moving forward. While he’s a little undersized in the post, Black is strong and quick in the paint and able to clear out space to score and rebound over bigger players, he’s a big time paint presence and rim protector at his size and he’s mobile and athletic enough to play in transition as well.</p> <p><strong>10) [player_tooltip player_id="815595" first="Judah" last="Egba"] | 6’8” | Oak Hill Academy (#34 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Egba-Judah.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1114404" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Egba-Judah-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Egba had a breakout year at Jamestown last year before deciding to transfer to Oak Hill Academy to develop as a player moving forward. While he’s still a little bit raw on the offensive end, Egba plays with a great motor that allows him to make plays on the glass on both ends and makes him a good rim protector and defender as well. He’s athletic already and still growing into his body, he runs the floor very hard and he has good hands and soft touch out to the elbow and he should continue to develop nicely moving forward.</p> <p><strong>9) [player_tooltip player_id="1107826" first="Cole" last="Webster"] | 6’7” | Smith Mountain Lake Christian (#30 Overall)</strong></p> <p>Webster is a new name in the VA area to keep an eye on as he transferred to the small christian school outside of Lynchburg from California and had a good summer and fall to make a name for himself. Webster is very versatile at his size, as he’s able to stretch the floor and make shots out to the three-point line, and he can handle it in transition and create space off the bounce. He’s long and athletic and can rebound and finish at the rim, he’s mobile and can run the floor and he has tons of room to improve moving forward.</p> <p><strong>8) [player_tooltip player_id="815582" first="David" last="Onanina"] | 6’6” | Bishop O’Connell (#27 Overall)</strong></p> <p>Onanina was one of the best players on a young and talented player O’Connell team last year, and the big man is a very intimidating presence in the post that plays bigger than his 6’6” frame would imply. He’s very strong in the post and uses his size to clear out space, he pursues the basketball on both ends of the floor and was one of the top rebounders in the WCAC the past two years and he’s a powerful athlete who can finish above the rim and protect the rim as well. He’s a very productive guy who doesn’t need the ball in his hands very often to make winning plays for his team.</p> <p><strong>7) [player_tooltip player_id="815581" first="David" last="Solomon"] | 6’6” | Lake Braddock (#21 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/David-Solomon.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1029188" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/David-Solomon-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Solomon has been one of the best underclassmen in the state the past two years, even helping Lake Braddock to the state championship game as a freshman and has been very successful in both high school and on the AAU scene with Team Durant. Solomon is a big kid who is takes up space in the paint and is an explosive athlete that can play above the rim, finishing touches in the paint with thunderous dunks and protecting the rim on the defensive end as well. He’s surprisingly mobile for his size as he can get out and run with the guards, he can seal and finish over either shoulder and has good touch to go along with his ability to play above the rim and make energy plays.</p> <p><strong>6) [player_tooltip player_id="815584" first="Keyontae" last="Lewis"] | 6’8” | LC Bird (#18 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Lewis-Keyontae.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1027926" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Lewis-Keyontae-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Lewis has quietly been one of the top bigs in the Richmond area for an LC Bird team that showed promise last year and should be a favorite in the Class 5 division of the VHSL this year. Lewis has always been a big kid who takes up a ton of space in the paint and is able to make driving guards uncomfortable, and his size allows him to seal and clear out space offensively to attack the glass and score in the paint. He’s worked hard on getting his body right and has become more athletic because of it, he has touch out to the three-point line and is a good passer on the perimeter and he has a good feel and knack for the ball to be able to score it in the paint and make the dirty plays as well.</p>